Toilet lid

ABSTRACT

The toilet lid for a toilet consisting of a toilet bowl, a seat and a toilet lid with or without a drilled through-hole consists in that at least one cupola- or dome-like, one- or multidimensional moulded body made of a glass-clear, transparent or semitransparent material is fixedly or detachably arranged on the outer wall surface of the toilet lid, and solid, liquid or movable decorative objects or materials and/or functional objects are arranged in the hollow or interior space defined by the moulded body and the outer wall surface of the toilet lid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a toilet lid according to the preambleof claim 1.

Toilets are known in which the toilet lid is adapted for the receptionof decorative materials. Such toilet lids are double-walled and includea hollow space for the reception of decorative materials, and theirouter wall consists of a glass-clear material. In the aforedescribedembodiment, the toilet lids have to be manufactured and acquiredseparately. The toilet lids of existing toilets which have already beeninstalled cannot be retrofitted. In another embodiment, decorativefilms, e.g. with a floral pattern, are stuck onto the outer wall surfaceof the toilet lid and covered with a protective film, or incorporatedinto the toilet lid's material such that the image is visible fromoutside.

The object of the present invention is to retrofit a usual, commerciallyavailable toilet lid with or without a drilled through-hole, or thetoilet lid of a toilet of the type described at the beginning which hasalready been installed without damaging the toilet lid and in such a waythat the toilet lid can receive solid, liquid or movable decorativeobjects or materials and/or functional objects which are attractivelyarranged and able to be seen by the toilet user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforesaid object is achieved by means of a toilet lid having thefeatures specified in claims 1 and 2.

According to a first embodiment specified in claim 1, the inventionconsists in that at least one cupola- or dome-like, one- ormultidimensional moulded body made of a glass-clear, transparent orsemitransparent material is fixedly or detachably arranged on the outerwall surface of the toilet lid, and solid, liquid or movable decorativeobjects or materials and/or functional objects are arranged in thehollow space defined by the moulded body and the outer wall surface ofthe toilet lid.

The aforedescribed embodiment according to the invention enables usual,commercially available or existing toilet lids to be provided with acupola-like moulded body made of a glass-clear plastic thus defining aspace enclosed by the moulded body and the outer wall surface of thetoilet lid, in which space decorative materials or objects can bearranged which can be solid, e.g. images of landscapes or cities,movable, e.g. dice, marble games, or liquid, e.g. a coloured liquid withwooden or plastic fish swimming therein in order to achieve anaquarium-like effect.

According to a second embodiment specified in claim 2, the inventionconsists in that both openings of the drilled through-hole in the toiletlid are covered by means of plate-shaped or cupola- or dome-like, one-or multidimensional moulded bodies made of a glass-clear, transparent orsemitransparent material and/or a non-transparent material, whichmoulded bodies are fixedly or detachably arranged, and solid, liquid ormovable decorative objects or materials and/or functional objects arearranged in the hollow or interior space defined by the moulded bodies.

It is particularly advantageous that the openings of the drilledthrough-hole in the toilet lid be covered by means of a cupola- ordome-like body since in this way a large hollow space is obtained inwhich functional objects, e.g. a radio or a game, can be placed.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in thesubclaims.

For instance, the cupola-like moulded body arranged on the outer wallsurface of the toilet lid can vary widely in shape. The area of themoulded body's base corresponds to the area of the outer wall surface ora part of the outer wall surface of the toilet lid. It is also possibleto arrange more than one cupola-like moulded body on the toilet lid. Thecupola-like moulded body can be box-shaped or have the form of a roundedcap.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the cupola-likemoulded body is provided with a bottom plate instead of being open atits bottom side thus defining an enclosed interior space. The decorativematerials or functional objects are placed in the interior space beforethe bottom plate is attached.

The cupola-like moulded body can be secured to the outer wall surface ofthe toilet lid e.g. by screwing, gluing or clamping or by means of othersuitable fastening members. In this regard, it is particularlyadvantageous that the cupola-like moulded body comprises acircumferential supporting edge bent perpendicularly outwards, whichsupporting edge facilitates attachment to the outer wall surface of thetoilet lid, e.g. by screwing or gluing.

The cupola-like moulded body can also be secured to the toilet lid byattaching the cupola-like moulded body to the outer wall surface of thetoilet lid by means of a lath having an L-shaped cross-sectionalprofile, which lath is secured to the toilet lid and overlays the edgearea of the moulded body with one of its legs. The moulded body'soutwardly angled, circumferential edge is then retained in the gapbetween the outer wall surface of the toilet lid and the angled leg ofthe lath. The fixing lath can be arranged and designed such that theoutwardly angled edge of the moulded body is push-inserted into the gap.

In order that the interior space of the cupola-like moulded body beaccessible and the decorative materials or functional objects can beexchanged at any time, another embodiment of the invention envisagesthat the cupola-like moulded body be pivotably mounted on the toilet lidby means of a hinge, which is preferably provided in the rear area ofthe toilet lid, and the front area of the moulded body be retained onthe toilet lid by means of a Velcro fastener, magnetic lock, clamping orsnap-on device.

In order to protect the materials or objects contained inside themoulded body from moisture and splashed water, the cupola-like mouldedbody is sealingly arranged on the outer wall surface of the toilet lidby means of a rubber seal arranged in the moulded body's edge area.

Functional objects arranged in the interior space of the cupola-likemoulded body, e.g. a clock or a radio, can be operated from outside dueto the fact that the cupola-like moulded body or a portion of thecupola-like moulded body consists of a plastic material having resilientproperties and a high inherent stability.

Toilet lids having a drilled through-hole are also provided withcupola-like covers which close the openings of the through-hole suchthat large-volume hollow spaces are obtained. The cross-sectional areaof the drilled through-hole in the toilet lid can be smaller than thearea of the toilet lid, but the cross-sectional area of the drilledthrough-hole in the toilet lid can also be approximately the same as thearea of the toilet lid. In the latter case, the drilled through-hole inthe toilet lid can have a cross-sectional shape corresponding to theshape of the outer wall surface of the toilet lid.

The drilled through-hole in the toilet lid can be sized such that only acircumferential rim of the toilet lid remains to the outer wall surfacesof which the two cupola-like moulded bodies are secured. This rim can bedesigned as a rubber seal if the hollow space provided is to be filledwith water in order to create an aquarium, or consist of a glass-clearmaterial such that a body, i.e. a toilet lid, consisting of aglass-clear material is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Now, embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail bymeans of the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a toilet comprising a toilet bowl and atoilet lid which is closed and on the outer wall surface of which acupola-like moulded body defining an enclosed interior space isarranged;

FIG. 2 shows a vertical section of the toilet lid along the line A-A inFIG. 1, wherein a box-shaped moulded body is arranged on the outer wallsurface of the toilet lid and pivotably mounted on the toilet lid in itsrear area by means of a hinge;

FIG. 3 shows a vertical section of the toilet lid along the line A-A inFIG. 1, wherein a moulded body having the form of a rounded cap isarranged on the outer wall surface of the toilet lid;

FIG. 4 shows a vertical section of the toilet lid along the line A-A inFIG. 1, wherein a cupola-like moulded body whose base has an areasmaller than the outer wall surface of the toilet lid is arranged on theouter wall surface of the toilet lid;

FIG. 5 shows a vertical section of the toilet lid along the line A-A inFIG. 1, wherein a cupola-like moulded body being closed at its bottomside by means of a bottom plate is arranged on the outer wall surface ofthe toilet lid, as well as an enlarged partial view A;

FIG. 6 shows a vertical section of the toilet lid along the line A-A inFIG. 1, wherein a cupola-like moulded body is retained on the outer wallsurface of the toilet lid by means of a fixing lath, as well as anenlarged partial view B;

FIG. 7 shows a vertical section of the toilet lid along the line A-A inFIG. 1, wherein a cupola-like moulded body being sealed towards theouter wall surface of the toilet lid is arranged on the outer wallsurface of the toilet lid, as well as an enlarged partial view C;

FIG. 8 shows a vertical section of a toilet lid having a central drilledthrough-hole both openings of which are covered by means of cupola-likemoulded bodies;

FIG. 9 shows a vertical section of a toilet lid having a drilledthrough-hole with a large cross-sectional area, wherein both openings ofthe drilled through-hole are covered by means of cupola-like mouldedbodies;

FIG. 10 shows a vertical section of a toilet lid having a drilledthrough-hole sized such that a circumferential rim of the toilet lid'smaterial remains, wherein both openings of the toilet lid are covered bymeans of cupola-like moulded bodies;

FIG. 11 shows a vertical section of a toilet lid comprising acircumferential rim designed as a rubber seal to which cupola-likemoulded bodies are secured on both sides;

FIG. 12 shows a vertical section of a toilet lid comprising acircumferential rim made of a glass-clear material to which cupola-likemoulded bodies are secured on both sides; and

FIG. 13 shows a vertical section of a toilet lid comprising acircumferential rim made of a glass-clear material and having a T-shapedcross-sectional profile on both sides of which plate-shaped mouldedbodies are arranged which are parallel to each other and spaced from oneanother.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to FIG. 1, a toilet 10 consists of a toilet bowl 11 with atoilet seat not shown in the figure and a toilet lid 12 which is mountedin the rear area 11 a of the toilet bowl 11 by means of hinges 13.

At least one cupola- or dome-like moulded body 20 which is made of aglass-clear or transparent plastic or another suitable material and canhave any desired shape is arranged on the outer wall surface 12 a of thetoilet lid 12. The moulded body 20 can be box-shaped (FIGS. 1 and 2),but it can also have a curved shape, e.g. be formed like a rounded cap(FIG. 3). The moulded body 20 and the outer wall surface 12 a of thetoilet lid 12 define an interior space 21 intended to receive decorativematerials, decorative objects or functional objects 50 (FIG. 3).

The area G of the base of the cupola-like moulded body 20 corresponds tothe area or part of the area of the outer wall surface 12 a of thetoilet lid 12 (FIGS. 3 and 4). In addition, the area G covered by thebase of the cupola-like moulded body 20 has a square, circular,triangular or other geometric shape or a shape corresponding to that ofthe outer wall surface 12 a of the toilet lid 12.

The moulded body 20 comprises a circumferential supporting edge 25 whichis bent perpendicularly outwards and serves to secure the cupola-likemoulded body 20 to the outer wall surface 12 a of the toilet lid 12 bymeans of screwed or glued joints 40 (FIGS. 1 to 7). Other fasteningmembers can also be provided, e.g. clamping or snap-on devices orpush-fit devices.

The cupola-like moulded body 20 is open at its bottom side. Once themoulded body has been mounted, it is closed by the outer wall surface ofthe toilet lid 12. According to FIG. 5, the cupola-like moulded body 20can be closed by means of a bottom plate 23 at its bottom side, whichbottom plate is fixedly or detachably attached to the moulded body 20and serves to secure the moulded body to the outer wall surface 12 a ofthe toilet lid 12. The bottom plate 23 can also be attached to themoulded body 20 by means of a hinge in order to enable the moulded bodyto be opened.

In order that the materials or objects arranged in the interior space 21of the cupola-like moulded body 20 can be exchanged for other suchmaterials or objects, an embodiment according to FIG. 1 envisages thatthe cupola-like moulded body 20 be pivotably mounted on the toilet lid12 by means of a hinge 24 which is preferably provided in the rear areaof the toilet lid 12, while the front area of the moulded body 20 isretained on the toilet lid 12 by means of a Velcro fastener, magneticlock, clamping or snap-on device not shown in the drawing. Detachablefastening members can also be provided instead of a hinge.

According to another embodiment in which the moulded body 20 ispivotably mounted on the toilet lid 12 or the bottom plate 23, it ispossible that the moulded body 20 be designed to open automatically,e.g. due to the force exerted by a spring, in addition to the manualopening thereof, i.e. the front part of the moulded body opensautomatically, e.g. due to the action of a helical spring or othersuitable spring members, once it has been unlocked.

FIG. 6 shows the cupola-like moulded body 20 in an inserted position.According to this embodiment, the cupola-like moulded body 20 is securedto the outer wall surface 12 a of the toilet lid 12 by means of a fixinglath 30 having a Z-shaped cross-sectional profile 31, which fixing lathis secured to the toilet lid 12 and overlays the edge area 25 of thecupola-like moulded body 20 with one of its legs 31 a. The gap 33between the upper angled leg 31 a and the outer wall surface 12 a of thetoilet lid 12 thus forms an opening into which the angled edge portion25 of the cupola-like moulded body 20 is inserted.

In order to achieve a watertight fit between the circumferential edge ofthe cupola-like moulded body 20 and the outer wall surface 12 a of thetoilet lid 12, the contact area of the moulded body 20 or itscircumferential or partly circumferential edge portion 25 is providedwith a rubber seal 60 on the side thereof facing the toilet lid 12,which rubber seal can e.g. be retained in a groove 61 provided in theedge portion 25.

The surface of the cupola-like moulded body 20 or the cupola-likemoulded body as a whole can be figure-shaped.

The cupola-like moulded body 20 or portions thereof consist(s) of aresilient material which at the same time has a high inherent stiffnesssuch that functional objects arranged in the interior space 21 of themoulded body 20 can be operated by depressing the moulded body'smaterial in the area of control buttons of the functional object.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, the toilet lid 12 is providedwith a drilled through-hole 150 both openings of which 150 a, 150 b arecovered by means of cupola-like moulded bodies 120, 120′ consisting of aglass-clear material or a non-transparent material. The cupola-likemoulded bodies 120, 120′ extend only across the area of the drilledthrough-hole 150 or across the whole area of the toilet lid and aresecured to the outer wall surfaces of the toilet lid 12 (FIGS. 8 and 9).In these embodiments, the moulded bodies 120, 120′ have a cupola- ordome-like, one- or multidimensional shape as well. The moulded bodies120, 120′ are fixedly or detachably attached to the toilet lid 12.Solid, liquid or movable decorative objects or materials and/orfunctional objects 50 are arranged in the hollow or interior space 21defined by the moulded bodies 120, 120′.

The cross-sectional area of the drilled through-hole 150 in the toiletlid 12 is smaller than the area of the toilet lid 12 (FIG. 8), but thecross-sectional area of the drilled through-hole 150 in the toilet lid12 can also be approximately the same as the area of the toilet lid 12(FIG. 9).

The cross-sectional shape of the drilled through-hole 150 in the toiletlid 12 can also correspond to the shape of the outer wall surface of thetoilet lid 12.

According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the drilledthrough-hole 150 in the toilet lid 12 is sized such that only acircumferential rim 55 of the toilet lid 12 remains to the outer wallsurfaces of which the two cupola-like moulded bodies 120, 120′ aresecured. According to FIG. 11, the rim 55 can be designed as a rubberseal 60.

According to FIG. 12, a toilet lid 12, particularly one consisting of aglass-clear material, is obtained if the rim 55 consists of aglass-clear material and the two cupola-like moulded bodies 120, 120′are secured to the rim 55 in a liquid-proof manner, wherein both mouldedbodies 120, 120′ or only the lower moulded body 120′ can also beplate-shaped (FIG. 12).

In the embodiment in which the upper moulded body 120 is cupola-like andthe lower moulded body 120′ is designed as a lower end plate 121, thetwo parts 120 and 121 defining the hollow space 21 can be joinedtogether in their circumferential edge area (FIG. 12).

In the embodiment according to FIG. 13, the circumferential rim 55 has aT-shaped cross-sectional profile 56, and the two outer surfaces 57, 57′of the leg 56 a of the T-shaped cross-sectional profile 56 extending inthe plane of the toilet lid 12 serve as supporting surfaces for twoplate-shaped moulded bodies 121, 121′ which are parallel to each otherand spaced from one another and are made of a glass-clear ornon-transparent material. In this embodiment, the distance between thetwo plate-shaped moulded bodies 121, 121′ and the size of the hollowspace 21 between the two moulded bodies 121, 121′ is determined by thethickness of the leg 56 a of the T-shaped cross-sectional profile 56.

1. A toilet lid for a toilet (10) consisting of a toilet bowl (11 ), aseat and a toilet lid (12) with or without a drilled through-hole (150),wherein, at least one cupola- or dome-like, one- or multidimensionalmoulded body (20) made of a glass-clear, transparent or semitransparentmaterial is fixedly or detachably arranged on the outer wall surface (12a) of the toilet lid (12), and solid, liquid or movable decorativeobjects or materials and/or functional objects (50) are arranged in thehollow or interior space (21) defined by the moulded body (20) and theouter wall surface (12 a) of the toilet lid (12).
 2. A toilet lid for atoilet (10) consisting of a toilet bowl (11 ), a seat and a toilet lid(12) with or without a drilled through-hole (150), charactcrized in thatwherein, both openings (150 a, 150 b) of the drilled through-hole (150)in the toilet lid (12) are covered by means of plate-shaped and/orcupola- or dome-like, one- or multidimensional moulded bodies (120,120′) made of a glass-clear, transparent or semitransparent materialand/or a non-transparent material, which moulded bodies (120, 120′) arearranged in a fixed or detachable manner, and solid, liquid or movabledecorative objects or materials and/or functional objects (50) arearranged in the hollow or interior space (21) defined by the mouldedbodies (120, 120′).
 3. A toilet lid according to claim 1, wherein eachof the cupola-like moulded bodies (20; 120, 120′) has a base whose area(G) corresponds to the area or part of the area of the outer wallsurface (12 a) of the toilet lid (12).
 4. A toilet lid according toclaim 1, wherein each of the cupola-like moulded bodies (20; 120, 120′)has a base covering an area (G) which has a square, circular, triangularor other geometric shape or a shape corresponding to that of the outerwall surface (12 a) of the toilet lid (12).
 5. A toilet lid according toclaim 1, wherein each of the cupola-like moulded bodies (20; 120, 120′)comprises a circumferential supporting edge (25) which is bentperpendicularly outwards and is secured to the outer wall surface (12 a)of the toilet lid (12) by means of screwed or glued joints (40).
 6. Atoilet lid according to claim 1, wherein each of the cupola-like mouldedbodies (20; 120, 120′) is provided with a bottom plate (23) at itsbottom side, which bottom plate is fixedly or detachably attached to themoulded body (20) and serves to secure the same to the outer wallsurface (12 a) of the toilet lid (12) in a fixed or detachable manner.7. A toilet lid according to claim 1, wherein each of the cupola-likemoulded bodies (20; 120, 120′) is pivotably or detachably secured to thetoilet lid (12) or to the bottom plate (23) by means of a clamping,snap-on, push-fit or hinge device (24) which is preferably provided inthe rear area of the toilet lid (12), while the front area of themoulded body (20) is retained on the toilet lid (12) by means of aVelcro fastener, magnetic lock, clamping or snap-on device or anothersuitable, detachable or non-detachable fastening member.
 8. A toilet lidaccording to claim 7, wherein the moulded body (20; 120, 120′) can beopened manually or opens automatically, wherein automatic opening isenabled by a spring member provided in the rear area where the mouldedbody (20) is secured to the toilet lid (12) or to the bottom plate (23)attached to the toilet lid (12), which spring member causes the mouldedbody (20) to move into its open position.
 9. A toilet lid according toclaim 1, wherein the cupola-like moulded body (20; 120, 120′) is securedto the outer wall surface (12 a) of the toilet lid (12) by means of afixing lath (30) which is attached to the toilet lid (12) and has an L-or Z-shaped cross-sectional profile (31 ), wherein one leg (31 a) of thefixing lath (30) overlays edge portion (25) of the cupola-like mouldedbody.
 10. A toilet lid according to claim 1, wherein the cupola-likemoulded body (20) is sealingly arranged on the outer wall surface (12 a)of the toilet lid (12) by means of a rubber seal (60) arranged in itsedge area.
 11. A toilet lid according to claim 1, wherein thecupola-like moulded body (20; 120, 120′) has a figure-shaped surface.12. A toilet lid according to claim 1, wherein the cupola-like mouldedbody (20; 120, 120′) consists of a resilient material which is capableof resuming its original shape once it is relieved from pressure.13.-20. (canceled)